Verek (Savage Kings MC - South Carolina #3) - Lane Hart Page 0,63
wait for her to say something, anything, and eventually, she opens up. “I hate the smell of condoms. There were so many of them…all that latex…the smell of rubber.”
“Got it, no condoms,” I agree.
At that, she finally lifts her emerald eyes to mine. “I’m on birth control, the shot. Have been since…before, so at least I never had to worry about getting pregnant.”
“That’s a relief,” I say.
“And I’ve been tested several times for all STDs and HIV. Those were all thankfully negative because of the condoms,” Tessa says in a rush, like she thinks that’s important for me to know. “I’m clean, or at least clean of diseases…”
“I never even thought about that,” I tell her honestly.
“Well, you should have since we’ve fooled around and may do more,” she says. “Right?”
“Right, yeah,” I agree. “Thanks for letting me know. I get tested regularly too and haven’t been with anyone in eight months.”
“You really haven’t?” she asks, as if that’s so hard to believe.
“I haven’t. I swear.”
“Why not?” Tessa asks.
“Because I can’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t wanted to be with anyone else. I’m not sure if I ever really wanted anyone before or if I was just going through the motions.”
“Oh,” she says, staring at her knees again.
“So what else is there that you think I should know?” I ask before we get too far off topic and she doesn’t open up.
“Um, well, this is a specific one. My…breasts are very sensitive, and biting them really hurts.”
If not for the gum as a buffer, my back teeth would’ve probably chipped just now.
“Which man…?” I quickly change my mind. “No, don’t tell me. I promise I would never do more than lick or suck on your tits, if that’s something you might like.”
“That’s…that would be fine,” Tessa agrees, her cheeks matching her hair again.
“Anything else?”
“I never want to see duct tape again in any circumstance. Or the stock thing.”
“Of course not,” I reply, figuring those were pretty obvious.
“No work vans or storage facilities will ever be part of my future. And, um, I don’t think I could ever have sex with someone behind me again, unable to see their face, you know?”
“Right. Sure,” I agree, swallowing another piece of steak when I remember her on all fours in the stocks when we found her in the storage unit.
“The last thing I can think of right now is, well, I haven’t been back to Ocean Boulevard or the club since that night. If I’m going to live here in town, then at some time or another, I should probably go back. At least to give it a try.”
“You don’t have to ever go back there,” I assure her. “There’s nothing but T-shirts and bathing suit stores on the strip. I’m sure you can find plenty of both somewhere else.”
“Sure,” Tessa says. “But what about the club? Won’t you be going back to work at Fluid?”
“Maybe. I don’t really know where Roman will want me working. First I have to get my cut back.”
“Well, even if you’re not working there, Charlotte likes to go sometimes with Roman.”
“If you want to give it a try, I could go with you,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t leave your side the entire time.”
“Okay. I’ll think about it,” she replies. “For now, though, I think I’m ready to go to bed.” Tessa lowers her feet and stands up from the chair. “Are you coming with me?”
“Sure, yeah,” I agree as I stand up a little too quickly.
“I think I want to try letting you be the big spoon,” she says with a smile.
“I don’t mind being the little spoon,” I assure her.
“I know, but I think I may be okay with just cuddling from behind,” Tessa says when she leads the way to her bedroom.
“Are you sure? I’ll probably get hard and then poke you again…”
“Oh,” she says, stopping to grab the doorframe as she considers that. “Then let’s just stick to me being the big spoon. At least for now,” she tells me over her shoulder.
“I kind of love when you cuddle up to me,” I admit, giving her a kiss on her cheek. “It makes me feel…” I start to say loved, but I toss that word out the window. “Appreciated.”
“You are appreciated,” Tessa says. “More than you know,” she adds with a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tessa
* * *
I can’t believe I told Verek about all the things that remind me of the night I was taken. I haven’t even told Charlotte about all of my